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(No ModeL) A. C. HEDDEN.

CORN SHOCK COMPRESSOR.

N0. 343,814. Patented June 15, 1886.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AARON C. HEDDEN, OF ITHAOA, NEW YORK.

CORN-SHOCK COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,814, dated June 15, 1886.

Application filed September 24, 1885. Serial No. 178,098. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON G. HEDDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ithaca, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Shock Compressors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 7

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for binding corn and fodder shocks; and it consists in a frame of wood or iron, to which is attached a rope for binding, said rope being fastened to the frame by a wire loop or bail,and when drawn about the shock secured at the opposite end by double latches or eccentrics pivoted to the frame, saidlatches being held in proper position by springs to readily admit of the rope being drawn between them, and also in certain principles and details of construction hereinafter more fully described,and pointed out in the accompanying drawing.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and practical device for compressingshocks of corn or fodder until apermanent band can be fastened around them.

In the drawing, the figure is a plan View of my invention,showing its different parts.

Its construction and operation are as follows: Iprovide a rectangular frame composed of the pieces E and L, preferably of wood, united at their ends by metallic strips 1?. The piece L serves as the handle by which to grasp the device, and the piece E has pivoted near its outer ends the inwardly-projecting curved latches A, which meet near its center, and bear against each other and are held in position by the springs B. One end of each spring is bentdownward and secured in the block, the spring being then bent around the pivot of thelatehesmext turned so as to impinge against the inner edge of the latch. It will thus be seen that as the latches are spread apart they bear against the tension of the springs, and as soon as the pressure is released the springs act to quickly and auto matically return the latches to their normal position. The outer face of each of these latches, where they come in contact with each other, are roughened or serrated, the object of which will be presently explained. Near the handle L the metallic side pieces, I, are perforated for accommodating the ends of a loop or bail, H, to which is attached a cord or rope, F, of suitable length to pass around the shock. This rope is provided at its 0pposite end with a cross-piece or handle, I, for the convenience of the operator, and at one end of this handle is a slot, is, for carrying the binding-twine. Screw-eyess are also provided for the same purpose, located near the outer end of the frame.

In order to operate my device I first pass the binding-twine through one of the screweyes s, along the rope F to the handle I, where it is held within the slot k. I then grasp the handle L with the left hand, and swing the cord or rope F around the shock, and seize the cross-bar I upon the end of the rope with my right hand, by means of which I draw the rope F between the serrated jaws of the latches A, and compress the shock, the latches being pressed toward each other by the springs B, so that the jaws will hold the rope firmly as it is drawn between them. When the shock is sufficiently compressed, I secure the band or binder that is carried with the compressor and release the compressor by drawing the rope outwardly from between the serrated jaws of the latches A, and am ready to repeat the operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

'1. The combination, in a corn-shock compressor, of a handle and block, side pieces uniting said handle and block, a bail pivoted to said side pieces between the handle and block to which is attached a binding-rope, latches pivotally secured to one side of said block, and bearing against each other, actuated by springs also secured to said block,one end of each spring being turned up and abutting against a latch, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

2. In a shock-compressor, the rectangular frame provided with screw-eyes s,a11d latches In testimony whereof I affix my si A, operated by springs B, the bail H, and presence of two witnesses. rope F, attached to the bail, and provided gnature in with a cross-bar or handle at its end,said cross-' AARON 5 bar having slot 70 in one end, all arranged and Witnesses:

combined substantially as and for the pur- GEO. B. DAVIS,

pose set forth. D. F. VAN VLEET. 

